How To Stop Sibling Bullying In Your Household

It
is
common
for
brothers
and
sisters
to
argue,
fight,
and
have
competition
amongst
each
other;
however,
up
to
a
point,
it
can
turn
into
bullying,
and
there
signs
that
there
is
more
than
sibling
rivalry
going
on.
This
article
will
go
over
some
signs
of
sibling
bullying
and
also
provide
ways
to
stop
it
from
persisting
at
home.

Source:
flickr.com

What
Is
Sibling
Bullying
And
What
Isn't?

Sometimes
the
line
between
what
is
considered
normal
sibling
behavior
and
bullying
can
be
very
fine,
and
activities
and
interactions
should
be
observed
carefully
as
possible.
However,
some
instances
of
bullying
can
also
be
concealed
from
parents
and
will
occur
when
they
are
not
looking.
Nonetheless,
here
are
some
signs
of
sibling
bullying
to
look
out
for.
[1]

Bullying
Has
Harmful
Intent

Compared
to
ordinary
sibling
rivalries,
the
aggressor
always
intends
on
being
mean
and
hurtful,
and
therefore,
will
not
show
empathy
or
remorse
for
their
actions.
Because
the
bully
does
not
see
anything
wrong
with
what
they
are
doing
to
their
sibling,
their
behavior
will
continue
until
there
is
intervention.

Bullying
Is
Often
Repetitive

Behaviors
that
are
considered
bullying
can
have
patterns
to
them.
They
can
happen
regularly,
and
might
even
consist
of
the
same
themes.
The
frequency
of
bullying
behaviors
leads
to
more
distress
than
if
it
were
a
one-time
conflict.

Bullying
Usually
Has
No
Resolution

Source:
flickr.com

Following
an
event
where
bullying
is
suspected,
there
is
a
high
chance
that
the
siblings
will
not
reconcile.
Normal
sibling
relationships
have
warmth
and
conflict
in
them
-
after
a
quarrel,
things
will
usually
be
fine
once
again,
and
they
can
enjoy
each
others'
company.
However,
in
bullying,
warmth
may
never
present
itself.

Sibling
Bullying
Always
Has
A
Power
Differential

According
to
Dr.
Dan
Olweus,
who
is
a
pioneer
in
bullying
research
and
the
founder
of
the
successful
Olweus
Bullying
Prevention
program,
two
individuals
cannot
be
approximately
the
same
strength,
physically
or
mentally.
[2]
There
is
always
an
imbalance
in
power
in
bullying
situations,
and
the
victim
sibling
will
usually
struggle
to
defend
him
or
herself.

The
Effects
Of
Sibling
Bullying:
Why
It
Needs
To
Be
Stopped

Source:
maxpixel.net

It
has
been
well-documented
that
bullying,
in
all
forms,
can
lead
to
an
increased
risk
of
both
mental
and
physical
health
problems
in
individuals
who
have
been
subjected
to
it
at
any
point
in
their
life.

Children
in
particular
that
are
bullied
may
be
at
risk
for
higher
levels
of
depression
and
other
emotional
and
behavioral
disorders.
Additionally,
they
might
display
specific
symptoms
such
as
headaches,
stomach
aches,
bedwetting,
and
other
sleep
problems,
like
insomnia.
[3]

Additionally,
studies
show
that
compared
to
individuals
who
were
never
bullied
who
those
who
were
subjected
to
it
have
some
personality
traits
in
common
such
as
low
self-esteem,
low
assertiveness,
higher
anxiety
levels,
and
more
social
withdrawnness.
[3]

In
some
cases,
bullying
can
create
a
sense
of
hopelessness
in
individuals,
and
even
at
a
very
young
age,
many
also
express
suicidal
ideation,
if
they
feel
like
they
do
not
have
any
support
and
have
no
place
to
turn
to.

In
fact,
kids
who
report
being
bullied
are
also
much
more
likely
to
describe
having
suicide-related
behavior
than
those
who
were
not
bullied,
indicating
that
there
is
a
very
close
relationship
between
the
two.
However,
on
a
positive
note,
most
people
who
are
bullied
will
not
engage
in
suicidal
behaviors;
the
risk
is
just
higher
for
it.
[4]

Another
risk
factor
to
be
aware
of
is
substance
abuse,
and
while
the
youth
will
not
be
able
to
purchase
them,
it
is
always
possible
for
them
to
find
and
take
a
parent's
alcohol,
cigarettes,
or
prescription
drugs
to
cope
with
being
bullied.
This
is
especially
true
with
cases
of
sibling
bullying
since
it
will
also
usually
take
place
at
home.

Because
of
all
of
these
effects
of
bullying,
it
is
crucial
that
parents
always
get
involved
and
do
everything
they
can
to
stop
it
from
happening,
because
it
can
have
some
grave,
long-term,
and
sometimes
permanent,
consequences.
Thankfully,
there
are
many
things
you
can
do
at
home
to
stop
bullying,
which
will
be
discussed
in
the
next
section.

Strategies
To
Stop
Sibling
Bullying
At
Home

In
this
section,
you
will
learn
ways
that
you
can
put
an
end
to
bullying
in
your
home.
As
a
parent,
guardian,
or
any
head
of
the
household,
they
will
all
require
an
active
approach
from
you.
However,
they
are
still
practical
and
can
be
implemented
immediately.

Don't
Ignore
-
Intervene

If
you
notice
unusually
aggressive
behavior
happening
between
two
of
your
children,
do
not
just
assume
it
is
sibling
rivalry,
especially
if
it
has
been
persistent.

Even
if
they
have
not
occurred
over
a
period
of
time,
hitting,
name-calling,
and
other
related
physical
and
verbal
behaviors
should
never
be
tolerated,
and
you
will
need
to
make
that
clear
in
order
to
prevent
future
conflicts.

Enforce
Disciplinary
Action

If
verbal
warnings
were
not
enough
during
your
initial
interventions,
disciplining
the
bully
may
be
necessary,
and
they
should
be
held
responsible
for
their
actions.

You
will
need
to
use
your
best
judgment
on
how
to
discipline
a
household
bully,
but
grounding
them
or
taking
away
his
or
her
privileges
are
a
couple
of
common,
but
effective
ways
to
do
this.
Importantly,
the
bully
sibling
should
also
apologize
to
the
victim.

Use
Extra
Supervision

Source:
maxpixel.net

Bullying
is
rarely
ever
a
one-time
thing,
and
in
siblings,
it
is
more
likely
to
happen
over
and
over
than
not
because
they
are
living
under
the
same
roof;
therefore,
the
potential
to
engage
in
bullying
is
higher
than
peers
from
school.

Even
if
you've
already
addressed
bad
behavior
and
used
discipline,
you
will
still
need
to
keep
an
eye
out
for
new
situations
that
can
possibly
arise.
Bullying
can
happen
again,
and
it
is
up
to
you
to
catch
it
if
it
happens
to
come
up.

Teach
Empathy
&
Respect

As
the
head
of
the
household,
you
are
a
model
for
what
good
behavior
should
look
like
for
your
kids,
and
if
bullying
is
a
problem,
you
will
need
to
demonstrate
what
these
values
are
so
that
they
can
be
learned.

Showing
empathy
towards
the
victim
sibling
can
show
the
bully
that
his
or
her
actions
can
cause
their
brother
or
sister
pain,
which
can
help
prevent
future
events
from
coming
up.
Teaching
them
the
meaning
of
respect
will
also
go
a
long
way
not
only
for
their
siblings
but
with
everyone
else
they
encounter
throughout
life.

Introduce
Them
To
Problem-Solving
Techniques

In
addition
to
empathy
and
respect,
kids
can
learn
new
skills
to
help
them
replace
bullying
with
more
adaptive
behaviors.

Some
bullies
lash
out
because
of
stress
and
feelings
of
inadequacy,
and
consequently,
lash
out
at
others
as
a
way
to
cope.
By
addressing
these
feelings
and
finding
ways
to
replace
these
feelings
with
productive
ones,
bullying
can
subside.
Additionally,
team-building
exercises
can
be
introduced
to
siblings
to
help
them
learn
how
to
collaborate
instead
of
being
in
conflict.

Always
Treat
Your
Kids
Equally

By
giving
siblings
equal
care
and
attention,
you
can
reduce
the
need
for
bullying
because
they
will
feel
that
his
or
her
needs
are
being
met,
and
will
not
have
to
find
recognition
or
validation
by
overpowering
somebody
else.

In
order
to
prevent
jealousy,
it
is
also
crucial
that
you
avoid
making
comparisons
between
siblings
as
well
as
using
nicknames
such
as
"the
smart
one."
Categorizing
is
bad,
and
instead,
praise
each
of
your
children
equally,
and
let
them
know
that
they
are
valued.

Conclusion

Due
to
the
effects
of
bullying,
it
will
always
be
a
public
health
concern
and
may
never
be
eliminated
entirely.
However,
everyone
can
do
his
or
her
part
to
help
keep
bullying
to
a
minimum
and
reduce
its
impact
on
society.

Bullying
at
school
is
frequently
discussed,
but
other
forms
of
bullying
can
exist
just
about
anywhere,
including
in
your
home
and
online,
and
since
there
is
not
any
staff
available,
it
is
your
responsibility
to
stop
bullying
in
its
tracks
when
it
comes
up.

Sibling
bullying
is
one
of
the
most
common
ways
that
bullying
can
manifest
in
your
house,
and
this
article
has
given
you
ways
to
distinguish
it
between
normal
rivalries.
Additionally,
the
strategies
listed
here
will
hopefully
be
effective
in
eliminating
any
bullying
issue
in
your
household.

If
your
child
is
displaying
any
of
the
effects
of
bullying
listed
in
this
article,
he
or
she
can
benefit
from
therapy,
and
at
BetterHelp,
online
counseling
sessions
from
licensed
therapists
are
available
to
help
them
heal.
Persistent
bullying
situations
can
also
be
stressful
for
parents
and
guardians
to
handle,
and
therapy
can
also
provide
ways
to
manage
stress
and
anxiety
and
teach
them
how
to
cope.

Even
if
diffusing
sibling
bullying
is
more
challenging
than
you
anticipated,
it
is
essential
that
you
let
your
kids
know
that
you
care
and
support
them
no
matter
what.
Victims
of
bullying,
especially,
will
need
assurance
that
they
have
allies,
they
are
not
alone,
and
things
will
be
okay
in
due
time.

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

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